The Asahi Shimbun — Tokyo: an office with no corridors, and tables made from shredded newspaper

Concept

CLEAR

The concept is “CLEAR”: open communication and a transparent organisation. To get people who had rarely met talking, the designers placed lounges and focus booths freely and let people move between them — a plan with no corridors. Desks are deliberately set at random so that different activities come into view.

Glass and a “water-surface” panel — mirror stainless steel embossed with ripples — give transparency, and wood adds warmth.

01 · Centre core

A step down, the ceiling off

The symbol of the concept is the centre core. Its floor is one step lower, and the ceiling boards were removed to leave pipes, wiring and ducts in view. Its edges are made of double-sided sofas, high counters and walls with openings, so that eyes meet and conversations start, and it has only three entrances.

02 · Materials

Ripples and mirrors

The water-surface panels catch the light like a pond, and mirrored pendants hang over the tables.

03 · Newspaper

Tables of pressed paper

The tops of the tables in the guest area are original: shredded newspaper pressed into a solid board.

04 · Signs

Printing in the details

Column signs are based on subtractive colour mixing, the principle of newspaper printing, and the meeting-room signs carry crop marks.

05 · Work

Desks at random

Around the core, desks and meeting rooms are arranged so that the floor never quite lines up.